Self-locking insertion-type connector

ABSTRACT

Electrical connectors of the insertion type are made out of sheet or coil stock and, in the simplest versions of all of the various embodiments thereof, are each formed into a U-shape so as to have at least two parallel extending and substantially planar leg portions and an integral intermediate planar portion. A peculiar T-shaped protuberance is formed in each leg portion of the connector, and functions not only as a fastening detail for a spade-tip terminal, but also as a locking detail when the legs of the connector are inserted within appropriately aligned apertures of an associated support member. The intermediate planar portion is preferably die-worked to form any one of a number of fastening details therein, such as a die-formed single thread opening, a solder lug or a T-shaped spade-tip terminal receiving protuberance.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Benjamin B. Meyers OTHER REFERENCES lndhnapousthd' Tinnerman Products Inc, Bulletin No. 336 Jan. 15, 1960 1 1 pp 848,609 Class 339' Sub 217$ [22] Filed Aug. 8, 1969 5 patented June 5 97 Primary ExaminerStephen J. Novosad [73] Assignee Western Electric Company, Incorporated gamma-Robert Hafer New York NY. AttorneysW. M. Kain, R. P. Miller and A. C. Schwarz, Jr.

[54] SELF-LOCKING INSERTION-TYPE CONNECTOR 15 Claims, 7Drawin Figs.

8 ABSTRACT: Electrical connectors of the insertion type are UeS- made out of sheet o coil stock and in the simplest versions of 339/256 all of the various embodiments thereof, are each formed into a Int. Cl- U-shape so as to have at least two arallel extending and sub. 0i stantially lanar leg portions and an integral intermediate 256, 243, 248 planar portion. A peculiar T-shaped protuberance is formed in each leg portion of the connector, and functions not only as a [56] References CM fastening detail for a spade-tip terminal, but also as a locking UNITED STATES PATENTS detail when the legs of the connector are inserted within ap- 3,340,497 9/1967 Balint 339/217 (S) propriately aligned apertures of an associated support 3,366,915 1/1968 Miller 339/49 member. The intermediate planar portion is preferably die- 3,419,839 12/1968 Matthews 337/188 worked to form any one of a number of fastening details 3,421,135 1/1969 Soltysik et al.... 339/217 (S) therein, such as a die-formed single thread opening, a solder 3,456,231 7/ 1969 Paullus et a1 339/60 lug or a T-shaped spade-tip terminal receiving protuberance.

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x 14 14b I I Le a a PATENTEUJUNISIHY! 3.585576 sum 1 [1F 2 PATENIEU JUN? 51% SHEET 2 OF SELF-LOCKING INSERTION-TYPE CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to those of the self-locking insertion type which permit multiple and varied types of terminal connections to be made thereto by means of spaced-apart fastening details formed therein. In the interest of clarity hereinafter, the word connector" will have specific reference to formed metal structures which nonnally receive external terminations, the latter being referred to hereinafter simply as terminals," whether or not they are of the formed type, such as spade-tips, threaded members, or simply lead wire extremities.

2. Description of Prior Art Electrical connectors of the insertion type have taken many forms heretofore, most of which, however, provide only one fastening detail such as a solder lug, tapped hole, etc., to which an external electrical terminal can be connected. Moreover, they have generally been constructed in a manner which does not lend itself to forming a plurality of connectors in an integral array, and particularly without adversely affecting the fastening characteristics exhibited by the connectors individually.

In addition, prior art insertion-type connectors have generally relied on either shank portions having saw-toothed or barbed edges, or special tabs that must be bent back, for securing the connector within a suitable aperture or slot in an associated support member, such as a circuit or connector board. In either case, power driven apparatus is normally required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide new and improved electrical connectors constructed out of sheet or strip stock and formed in such a manner that the terminals not only provide multiple fastening details, but may be manually inserted into appropriate apertures of a support member.

It is another object of this invention to provide new and improved insertion-type connectors wherein certain of the fastening details formed therein for completing electrical connections with associated terminals also simultaneously effect a self-locking action when the connector is inserted within appropriate apertures or slots in an associated support member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved self-locking insertion-type connectors which are of simple, reliable and inexpensive construction, and which may be manufactured and used either as independent connectors or in integral strip form arrays.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention,

. and in the simplest versions of all of the various illustrative embodiments, the electrical connector is formed out of sheet or coil stock into a substantially U-shape, with a T-shaped section partially blanked out of each planar leg portion thereof. The top horizontal segment of each T-section extends outwardly from the nonnal planar surface of the associated leg portion so as to allow the insertion of a spade-tip terminal therebetween from either the top or the bottom of the T-section.

In securing the connector to a suitably slotted support member, such as a circuit or connector board, the T- sections are spring biased slightly inwardly while being forced through the aligned slots in the board, with the upper horizontal seg ments of the T-sections thereafter again springing outwardly to their normal position so as to bias against the underside of the connector board. The T-sections thus not only function as fastening details for spade-tip terminals, but also as connector locking details.

Spaced detents may be formed in each planar leg portion of the connector, being positioned such that when the leading ends of a spade-tip terminal are inserted between the free ends of the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the associated leg portion, the arcuate, peripheral rearward edges of the terminal will bias against the detents. The detents thereby augment the frictional retention forces normally exerted on the terminal by the resilient T-section.

In accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, the intermediate planar portion of the subject terminal may include, for example, a tapped hole, a die-formed single threaded opening, a third T-section or an outwardly extending portion forming a lug appropriate for connecting an external wire thereto. The connectors embodied herein may also be formed with more than two parallel extending leg portions, and also may be integrally interconnected to form a strip thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, with a fragmentary portion of a typical connector support board being illustrated in spaced alignment therebeneath;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the connector of FIG. 1 after insertion in a connector board, the latter being only partially shown in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another connector-support board embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of still another connector embodiment in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the connector depicted in FIG. 4 as normally inserted in a connector board, the latter being only partially shown in cross section;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an additional connector embodiment constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a typical connector board having inserted within different aligned pairs of slots therein connectors of the type depicted in FIGS. 1-2, by way of example only, both as individual units and as an integral connector strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With specific reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector 10 in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention is formed into a U-shaped configuration so as to have two parallel extending and substantially planar leg portions 11 and an integral intermediate planar portion 12. The connector may be made out of any one of a number of metals or alloys thereof, and preferably is formed into the desired shape from sheet or coil stock.

A substantially T-shaped section designated generally by the reference numeral 14 is partially blanked out of a central area of each planar leg portion 11. A vertically extending segment 14a of the T-section is bent outwardly so that an integral, upper horizontal segment 14b is spaced a sufficient distance from the normal planar surface of the associated leg portion 11 so as to allow a spade-tip type of terminal 17 to be inserted therebetween from either the top or bottom of the T-section and, hence, from either the top or bottom side of a connector board.

The intermediate planar portion 12 may be formed with any one of a number of fastening details, the particular one disclosed being a conventional tapped opening 18 for accommodating a threaded fastening member 19. It is to be understood, of course, that this threaded opening could also be constructed as a die-formed single threaded opening. Concomitantly, the intermediate planar portion 12 of the connector may also be constructed with fastening details of a type other than for accommodating threaded members, as will become more apparent hereinafter in connection with the description of several other illustrative connector embodiments constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

A fragmentary view of a connector support board 22 is shown positioned in spaced relationship relative to the connector It) in FIG. l, the board having a pair of apertures or slots 24 formed therein which are positioned and dimensioned to accommodate the respectively aligned leg portions ll of the connector. The slots 24 are preferably formed with tapered entrance walls 240 (best seen in FIG. 2).

During the securing of the connector to the board, the T- section 14 are spring biased slightly inwardly as a result of the camming action produced by the tapered walls 24a of the slots 24. This causes the upper free edges of the horizontal segments 14b of the T-sections after clearing the slots to spring back again to their. normal positions so as to become ofi'set from the respectively associated slots, thereby reliably interlocking the connector to the board. It is to be understood, of course, that the necessary spring biasing of the leg portions 11 of the connector could also be effected either manually or by automated insertion apparatus, thereby obviating the need for tapered walls associated with the slots.

In certain applications where pullout requirements of the spade-tip terminal 17 are very stringent, either one or two pair of dimpled detents 29 may be formed in the outer surfaces of the leg portions 11 to function effectively as interlocks. More specifically, by properly positioning a pair of spaced detents 29 either near the top or bottom of each T-section 14, the particular location depending on whether the spade-tip terminal 17 is to be secured to the connector from the top or bottom thereof, the detents will bias forcefully against the rearward peripheral edges 17a of an inserted terminal should a pullout force intentionally or unintentionally be applied thereto. In order for this additional biasing force to be established, of course, not of course, not only must the detents be properly positioned relative to the peripheral edges 17a of a given spade-tip terminal, but the bifurcated legs of the terminal must be inserted as far as possible under the extending ears or extremities of the horizontal segment 14b, thereby straddling segment 14a of the T-section, as best seen in FIGS. l and 4.

In addition to or as an alternative to the use of detents l9, and particularly in applications where frictional forces exerted on a spade-tip terminal must be greater than that normally made possible by the resiliency exhibited by the T-section of the connector alone, spaced integral ribs 27 (see FIG. 2) may be formed on the underside of the connector board. These ribs are positioned relative to the slots 24 so as to normally abut against the horizontal segments 14b of the T-sections after they have been inserted through the slots and then allowed to spring back a distance which results in a tight, restricted force fit securement of an inserted spade-tip terminal.

FIG. 3 depicts a connector 30 which distinguishes from the connector 10 of FIG. I by having four planar leg portions 11 positioned in space quadrature rather than a single mutually disposed pair of leg portions. In the interest of brevity, all references hereinafter to features of connector 30, as well as to features of the other embodiments, which are identical or essentially identical to those described in connection with connector 10, will be identified by like reference numerals. To accommodate the leg portions of connector 30, a connector board 31, shown in a fragmentary view, is provided with four slots 24 of the type depicted in FIG. I, but arranged in space quadrature so as to be aligned with the leg portions 11 of the connector 30. By way of illustration only, a typical die-formed single thread opening 33 is shown formed in the planar portion 12 of the connector 30 rather than a tapped hole. In all other respects, connector 30 is essentially identical to connector 110. FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose another embodiment of the invention comprising an electrical connector 40 formed essentially identical to the connector depicted in FIG. 1, with the exception that the intermediate planar portion 12 thereof has been partially blanked to provide an upwardly extending lug 41 for use in facilitating the connection of a lead wire thereto. As indicated by the upwardly extending phantom outline of a spade-tip and associated lead, the connectors embodied herein readily retain such terminals whether they are inserted through the slots 2% from the top or bottom side of the connector board.

FIG. 6 illustrates an electrical connector 50 which comprises still another variation of the connectors 10 and w of FIGS. 1 and 4, respectively, and distinguishes thereover by having a T-shaped section M partially blanked out of the intermediate planar portion 12. This T-section normally would be identical to those partially blanked out of the leg portions II. In all other respects connector 50 likewise is essentially identical to the previously described connector embodiments.

FIG. 7, by way of illustration, depicts a fragmentary view of a typical connector board 55 adapted with a plurality of rows of slots 24 so as to support a plurality of any particular one or a selective combination of the various connector embodiments described and claimed herein. By way of example only, the connectors are shown as embodying the features exhibited by connector 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the exception that the intermediate planar portions 12 are shown formed with dieformed threaded openings of the type depicted in connector 30 of FIG. 3. Also by way of illustration in FIG. 6, a plurality of connectors 10 are shown integrally connected to form a strip 56 in accordance with the principles of the present inven' tion. It is to be understood, of course, that any of the connector embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 may be readily interconnected to form a strip of the type depicted in FIG. 6, with the particular number of connectors in the strip depending primarily on the requirements of a particular circuit application.

It should also be understood with respect to all of the connector embodiments of the present invention that more than one fastening detail may be formed in any of the planar sections thereof, the particular number of fastening details depending primarily, of course, on the dimensions of a given connector and the application contemplated therefor.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material comprises:

at least two parallel extending planar leg portions interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially T-shaped resilient section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and a horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal seg' ment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from either the top or bottom of the T-section.

2. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T- section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim ll wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion thereof so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T- shaped sections in said leg portions.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T- section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of and wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion of said connector so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-shaped sections.

5. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein are positioned in space quadrature and are integral with and extend from said intermediate planar portion.

6. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a single die-formed threaded opening formed in said intermediate planar portion.

7. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises an outwardly extending lug partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to facilitate the completion of a wire connection to said connector.

8. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a T-shaped section partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to accommodate a spade-tip terminal in the same manner as said T- sections in said planar leg portions.

9. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein a plurality of said connectors are constructed with a common intermediate planar portion to form an integral strip of connectors.

10. An electrical terminating assembly comprising:

A support member having at least one pair of spaced apertures formed therein, and

at least one electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material supported by said support member, said connector having at least two parallel extending planar leg portions respectively aligned with and inserted through said apertures in said support member, each of said apertures having a width dimension sufficient to also accommodate a spade-tip terminal, said leg portions being interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially T- shaped section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and an upper horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a suf ficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from the top of the T-section after having been inserted through the aperture associated therewith, or directly from the bottom of the T-section, the upper free edge of said horizontal segment of each T-section also being positioned below the underside of said intermediate planar portion of said connector such that when the leg portions thereof are inserted through said aligned apertures in said support member, the T-sections are slightly spring biased inwardly until having passed through the apertures, whereupon they spring back so that the horizontal segments of the T-sections are offset form the respective apertures through which they passed, thereby positioning the upper free edges of the horizontal segments adjacent the underside of said apertured support member to lock said connector reliably to the associated support member.

11. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said apertures in said support member are formed as rectilinear slots with at least one wall portion defining each of said slots being tapered inwardly from at least one side of said support member so as to define a cam surface to bias slightly inwardly the T-section of said connector when forced through said associated slot.

12. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions of said connector and positioned relative to said associated T-seciton so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.

13. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein a fastening detail is formed in the intermediate planar portiqn of each of said connectors so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-sections in said leg portions.

14. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least four of said apertures are formed in said support member and arranged in space quadrature so as to accommodate one of said connectors formed with four of said leg portions arranged in space quadrature.

15. An electrical tenninating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least two of said connectors are interconnected through an extension of said intermediate planar portion so as to form an integral strip of said connectors.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ;5 515 Dated June 5 97 lnventor(s) MBY (Case 2) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[Column 3, line 9 "section" should read --sections--. Column 3, l line 33, "not of course," should be omitted. Column L line 72, "the common leg portion," should be inserted after "of" and before "anu wherein". Column 5, line 2 if'our parallel extending leg portions" should be inserted after 'wherein" and before "are positioned". Column 6, line 9, "form" should read --from. Column 6, line 2h "T-seciton" should read T-section.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of December 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDNARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. An electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material comprises: at least two parallel extending planar leg portions interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially oT-shaped resilient section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and a horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from either the top or bottom of the T-section.
 2. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T-section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.
 3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion thereof so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-shaped sections in said leg portions.
 4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions and positioned relative to said T-section also formed therein so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of and wherein a fastening detail is formed in said intermediate planar portion of said connector so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-shaped sections.
 5. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein are positioned in space quadrature and are integral with and extend from said intermediate planar portion.
 6. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a single die-formed threaded opening formed in said intermediate planar portion.
 7. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises an outwardly extending lug partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to facilitate the completion of a wire connection to said connector.
 8. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fastening detail comprises a T-shaped section partially blanked out of said intermediate planar portion to accommodate a spade-tip terminal in the same manner as said T-sections in said planar leg portions.
 9. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 3 wherein a plurality of said connectors are constructed with a common intermediate planar portion to form an integral strip of connectors.
 10. An electrical terminating assembly comprising: A support member having at least one pair of spaced apertures formed therein, and at least one electrical connector formed initially out of flat conductive stock material supported by said support member, said connector having at least two parallel extending planar leg portions respectively aligned with and inserted through said apertures in said support member, each of said apertures having a width dimension sufficient to also accommodate a spade-tip terminal, said leg portions being interconnected by an intermediate planar portion, each of said leg portions having a substantially T-shaped section partially blanked out of the planar surface thereof, with each T-section comprising a vertically extending center segment and an upper horizontal segment, the center segment being bent outwardly such that the upper horizontal segment of the T-section is spaced a sufficient distance from the adjacent planar surface of said leg portion so as to allow a spade-tip terminal to be frictionally secured therebetween when inserted from the top of the T-section after having been inserted through the aPerture associated therewith, or directly from the bottom of the T-section, the upper free edge of said horizontal segment of each T-section also being positioned below the underside of said intermediate planar portion of said connector such that when the leg portions thereof are inserted through said aligned apertures in said support member, the T-sections are slightly spring biased inwardly until having passed through the apertures, whereupon they spring back so that the horizontal segments of the T-sections are offset form the respective apertures through which they passed, thereby positioning the upper free edges of the horizontal segments adjacent the underside of said apertured support member to lock said connector reliably to the associated support member.
 11. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein said apertures in said support member are formed as rectilinear slots with at least one wall portion defining each of said slots being tapered inwardly from at least one side of said support member so as to define a cam surface to bias slightly inwardly the T-section of said connector when forced through said associated slot.
 12. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one pair of spaced protuberances are formed in each of said leg portions of said connector and positioned relative to said associated T-seciton so as to bias against rearward peripheral edges of a spade-tip terminal when inserted between the horizontal segment of the T-section and the adjacent planar surface of the common leg portion of said connector.
 13. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 10 wherein a fastening detail is formed in the intermediate planar portion of each of said connectors so as to accommodate an electrical termination independent of the terminations provided by said T-sections in said leg portions.
 14. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least four of said apertures are formed in said support member and arranged in space quadrature so as to accommodate one of said connectors formed with four of said leg portions arranged in space quadrature.
 15. An electrical terminating assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least two of said connectors are interconnected through an extension of said intermediate planar portion so as to form an integral strip of said connectors. 